A message from Tom Babits, Head Primary Division

The Thanksgiving long weekend is a time for us to gather with family and/or friends, and perhaps share a good meal. It also reminds us to be grateful. If one needs any added motivation, let’s think about the well-being of our children.

There’s been a good deal of research done on the benefits of practising gratitude. I recently came across an older paper by psychologists Emmons and McCullough called “Counting Blessings Versus Burdens: An Experimental Investigation of Gratitude and Subjective Well-Being in Daily Life.” Over the years, the effect of a grateful outlook on psychological and physical well-being has become well-established. Here’s a less scholarly, relevant piece from Psychology Today on the benefits of gratitude.

I’m looking forward to gathering up our small family of four and spending time with my mother this weekend. I’m most fortunate to have them in my life. Whatever you do, I hope you, together with your children, find time to be grateful.